Survive and advance — that’s the objective from here on out as the College Football Playoff rolls into Austin, Texas.
No. 5 Texas (11-2) will host No. 12 Clemson (10-3) to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET for a first-round College Football Playoff matchup — the first on-campus postseason game for either the Longhorns or Tigers.
Texas, which came up one game short of reaching the national championship last season, is coming off a loss in the SEC championship game to Georgia two weeks ago. Steve Sarkisian’s squad has been one of college football’s top teams all season, but uncertainly surrounds the Longhorns heading into Saturday’s game after losing a second game to the Bulldogs this season — the latest in overtime.
Meanwhile, Clemson is appearing in its first College Football Playoff since the 2020 college football season. The Tigers earned their way into the CFP by beating one-loss SMU in the ACC title game, creating chaos in the process: With their win over the Mustangs, the Tigers knocked Alabama out of the CFP, allowing SMU to remain in the bracket as the 11 seed.
The winner of Saturday’s first-round game will advance to the CFP quarterfinals against No. 4 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day.
REQUIRED READING:Will CFP first-round games count as bowl games in record book? Depends on who you ask
With that, follow along here for live updates, scores, highlights and analysis of Saturday’s CFP first-round game between Texas and Clemson:
This section will be updated when the game begins.
(This section was updated with new information)
Texas grabs momentum back, as Quinn Ewers fires a perfectly placed, wide open pass to the back of the end zone to Texas tight end Gunnar Helm. It is the 26th touchdown pass of the season for Ewers, who is now 11 of 14 passing for 141 yards with a touchdown and an interception on the day.
Longhorns build their lead to 28-10 over Clemson with 28 seconds remaining in the half.
Clemson sends the field goal unit out after Cade Klubnik’s pass on third-and-5 to Bryant Wesco Jr. is short. The 32-yard field goal from Nolan Hauser is good, bringing Clemson’s deficit to 21-10 with 1:33 remaining in the first half.
As their offensive continues to struggle, the Tigers get a much needed spark from their defense.
R.J. Mickens intercepts Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers at the Longhorns’ 45-yard line on second-and-16 and takes it to the house for a score. But Mickens’ score is negated due to a blindside block penalty from Tigers defensive lineman Tre Williams.
Clemson has the ball with two minutes remaining in the first half at its 46-yard line.
Clemson’s first-half offensive struggles continue, as Cade Klubnik is picked off deep on the Tigers’ side of the field. Klubnik’s pass, which was intended for Antonio Williams, was tipped in the air by Barryn Sorrell and caught by Colin Simmons. Texas takes over at Clemson’s 26-yard line.
If it’s not broken, why fix it? That seems to be the philosophy for Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns, as Texas scores its third rushing touchdown of the first half. The latest comes on a 16-yard run up the right side from Quintrevion Wisner, his second touchdown of the game.
Texas has 122 rushing yards in the first half on 19 carries, compared to Clemson’s 45 rushing yards on nine carries. Complete dominance from the Longhorns’ offensive line thus far.
Matthew Golden continues to come up with big plays down the field for Texas. The latest is a 43-yard reception down the middle of the field on a lob pass from Quinn Ewers as pressure came from Clemson’s defensive line. Ewers is 7 for 7 for 100 yards to start the day.
Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley takes a play out of Texas’ playbook on first-and-10 to start and it works to pay off, as Adam Randall breaks off for 41-yard run up the middle. Two plays later Clemson burns its second timeout of the half after Cade Klubnik is sacked for a 10-yard loss. Third-and-16 coming up for Clemson at the Texas 46-yard line.
Texas continues to lean on its offensive line and rushing attack, as running back Jaydon Blue gets a huge lane and runs it to the house for a 38-yard score. Ten of the last 11 play calls from Steve Sarkisian have been rushes. Longhorns up 14-7 with 12:49 remaining in the first half.
Dabo Swinney opts to punt the ball on fourth-and-1. Clemson is unable to flip the field on the punt, as Aidan Swanson’s punt only makes it to Texas’ 35-yard line.
At the end of the first quarter, it’s all knotted up at 7-7 between Clemson and Texas. The Tigers face a big call to start the second half: go for it on fourth-and-1 at their 34-yard line or punt it? Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. pushed Clemson’s Phil Mafah out of bounds a yard short of picking up the first down on a screen pass from Cade Klubnik.
After picking up the first down on fourth-and-1 at the Clemson 4-yard line, Texas ties the game at 7-7 with a 3-yard carry up the middle from running back Quintrevion Wisner. Good start for the Longhorns’ run game, which has struggled in the last few weeks.
Wisner had four carries for 32 rushing yards on Texas’ opening drive, including a 22-yard run up the right sideline.
Cade Klubnik finds Antonio Williams on the dump pass across the middle of the field for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Great poise and confidence by Klubnik on the Tigers’ opening drive, which took almost seven minutes off the game clock on 12 plays.
With the extra point good from Nolan Hauser, Clemson takes the early 7-0 lead over Texas in the first quarter of Saturday’s CFP first-round game.
The Tigers have come out strong on offense, as Cade Klubnik scrambles to the left side to pick the first down to move into Texas’ side of the field. Klubnik has started 3 of 4 passing for 23 yards.
The Longhorns have won the toss and deferred the kickoff to the second half. It will be Clemson and Cade Klubnik up first on offense in the third first-round game of the CFP.
Ask and you shall receive. Dabo Swinney meets noted Texas alum Matthew McConaughey around the 30-yard line.
Shortly after learning the Tigers would travel to Texas for their first-round matchup, Swinney said, “I’m gonna meet Matthew McConaughey!” in his news conference. McConaughey, of course, is the Longhorns’ “Minister of Culture” and a signature presence at Texas games.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has taken the field at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium for warmups. Saturday’s CFP first round game vs. Texas is a homecoming of sorts for Klubnik, who is from Austin, Texas and attended Westlake High School.
According to the Austin American-Statesman’s David Eckert, Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond is on the sidelines in street clothes during warmups. Bond is currently dealing with a high-ankle sprain.
After not being able to travel to Atlanta for the SEC championship game, Texas’ mascot Bevo is back on the sidelines for Saturday’s CFP first-round game vs. Clemson as he enters the stadium.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on “College GameDay” earlier Saturday that Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond is “unlikely to play” vs. Clemson in the first-round of the CFP. Bond, who is a projected first-round NFL draft pick, is dealing with a high ankle sprain and “may try to warm up” on Saturday, per Thamel.
Saturday’s CFP first-round game vs. Clemson is just the second College Football Playoff game for Texas in program history. The Longhorns first appeared in the CFP last year, when they lost to eventual national runner-up Washington 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney enters Saturday’s CFP first-round game vs. Texas on the cusp of etching his name into the CFP record books. At 6-4 overall in the CFP, which includes two CFP national championship titles, Swinney is one win away from joining former Alabama coach Nick Saban as the lone two coaches that have won at least seven CFP games.
Click here to read more on Swinney’s record and history in the CFP.
Texas and Clemson will kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 21 in the first round of the CFP from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
REQUIRED READING:Why Texas coach Steve Sarkisian must follow Nick Saban example on Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers
Saturday’s CFP first-round matchup between Texas and Clemson will be broadcast nationally on TNT. Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Taylor McGregor will be on the call. Streaming options include Max and Sling TV, which carries TNT.
Texas and Clemson will meet for the first time in program history on Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Derrian Carter, The Greenville News: Texas beats Clemson
“Texas has been one of the best teams in the country despite losing in the SEC championship. Its only two losses are to Georgia, who also beat Clemson in Week 1. Backed by over 100,000 fans, the Longhorns will beat Clemson and advance to the second round of the CFP. Clemson is 0-2 against SEC teams this season too.”
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Texas 35, Clemson 24
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Thursday, Dec. 19:
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This section will be updated.
According to Weather.com, Saturday’s forecast in Austin, Texas is expected to be sunny with a high of 62 degrees. The sun isn’t expected to set until 5:34 p.m., which will likely come at some point in the second half. There is no chance of precipitation at kickoff, with winds projected to blow southeast at 5 mph.
Here’s a look at Texas’ schedule in 2024, including past scores and results:
* Denotes SEC game
** Denotes CFP ranking
Here’s a look at Clemson’s schedule in 2024, including past scores and results:
* Denotes ACC game
** Denotes CFP ranking
Here’s some pregame College Football Playoff reading ahead of Texas-Clemson:
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